Israel - Charedi Graduates Face More Difficulties Than Peers

Israel - Haredi job-seekers with a bachelor’s degree face greater difficulties in finding work than their non-haredi peers, according to a report published from the Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies.

It takes a haredi graduate an average of 6.58 months to find a job, compared to the 4.6 months it takes a non-haredi person, according to the report.

Additionally, the study found that for every four requests for interview received by non-haredi job applicants, haredim receive three, or 25 percent fewer.

Further, only 4% of haredi job applicants receive more than six responses for every 100 job applications, while 25% of non-haredi job hunters receive more than 6 responses.

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And haredi graduates also earn less than non-haredim with similar qualifications.

Half of all ultra-Orthodox workers with a bachelor’s degree earn between NIS 4,500 and NIS 7,200 per month, whereas only a third of non-haredim with equivalent degrees fall into this bracket.

The JIIS study, authored by Dr. Dan Kaufmann and Reut Marciano, identified several factors behind the disparities between haredim and non-haredim in their success at finding work.

They pointed to the general lack of presence haredim have in both virtual and actual social networks, and a consequent lack of contacts with people who could help them in their search for employment.

But the report also said that stigmas associated with haredi employers were also a contributive factor, although it was pointed out that such stigmas were based on ignorance not prejudice.

The authors also found that resume’s submitted by haredi candidates tended to be less “polished” then those of their counterparts, and frequently lacked referees.

In addition to focusing on the experience of ultra- Orthodox job candidates, the study also addressed the difficulties facing haredi men seeking to enter the job market resulting from the lack of secular education provided by the ultra- Orthodox educational system.

The large majority of male haredi high-school pupils do not study the core-curriculum subjects set by the state.

To redress the gaps in their education, many haredi men apply to study in preparatory courses for higher education.

“The absence of basic knowledge in core curriculum topics, especially mathematics, English and computer skills, along with a lack of general study capabilities required for academic study, turns study in these kinds of courses into a serious challenge,” the report noted.

And haredi men can struggle to finance their studies as well, since they will generally have lost the various grants and benefits provided to them as full-time yeshiva students, while also frequently being married with children.

Despite these challenges, haredi enrollment in higher education has almost tripled in recent years, the report noted.

But an additional barrier to employment is the fact that most haredim graduates generally earn their degrees at academic colleges and not at the more elite Israeli universities and educational institutes.

“The state must enact various methods of intervention in order to help haredim integrate into the job market,” the authors wrote in their study.

“This intervention is particularly necessary in the coming years in order to allow the first wave of haredi graduates to integrate into the labor force in the quickest and most effective way.

“The success of this first wave of haredi graduates in finding work will hold great influence in the eyes of the haredi public as to the necessity and effectiveness of academic studies, and has the potential to influence the continued trend of haredi men enrolling in higher education and going out to work,” they wrote.

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Feb 03, 2013 at 06:39 PMAnonymous Says:

These bochurim who have worked hard to get a college degree and then seek employment to support their families should be commended and encouraged even if they lack of the polish and social skills of their secular peers. At least they will not be begging for handouts like those who sit in kollel and refuse to work or make their wives work even though they have little kids at home. They truly show that a frum yid can live a balanced life with torah learning while earning a parnassah. Perhaps the colleges that the chareidim attend could work with big employers to provide these students some additional job-search skills in such simple tasks as writing a resume, how to dress and act on job interviews etc.

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Feb 03, 2013 at 06:49 PMAnonymous Says:

I don't know how it works in Israel but based on my USA experience charedim have to be ready to work in places that are not custom tailored toward charedim too. If they want jobs they have to be ready to work in places without michitzas and women may not be dressed properly. You may not be able to take off a whole friday either.

4

Feb 03, 2013 at 09:40 PMAnonymous Says:

I went to college, was a rov in a shul, and cannot find regular work. Ever since Obama came into power I have been very underemployed. I was hopeful that things would turn around when Romney would win but thanks to the democrats' fraud, I don't know what to do. Ein lanu al mi lehishaen eleh al Avinu ShebaShamayim!

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Feb 03, 2013 at 10:02 PMAnonymous Says:

As a recruiter in the NYC area for many years, I always try to help Charedi college graduates, however, most of them are not able to pass the basic tests that my office gives. Even when they have a BS degree, they fail the majority of the high school level tests and so I cannot send them to any of my clients. Even with a degree, their English is sorely lacking basic skills. Too bad.

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Feb 03, 2013 at 10:04 PMAnonymous Says:

“
These bochurim who have worked hard to get a college degree and then seek employment to support their families should be commended and encouraged even if they lack of the polish and social skills of their secular peers. At least they will not be begging for handouts like those who sit in kollel and refuse to work or make their wives work even though they have little kids at home. They truly show that a frum yid can live a balanced life with torah learning while earning a parnassah. Perhaps the colleges that the chareidim attend could work with big employers to provide these students some additional job-search skills in such simple tasks as writing a resume, how to dress and act on job interviews etc. ”

"Perhaps the colleges that the chareidim attend could work with big employers to provide these students some additional job-search skills in such simple tasks as writing a resume, how to dress and act on job interviews etc."

Big employers don't have time to teach job searching and resume writing. Do you think HR has time to rewrite a resume for a Charedi graduate? The graduates need to come prepared!

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Feb 03, 2013 at 10:20 PMHuh? Says:

“
I went to college, was a rov in a shul, and cannot find regular work. Ever since Obama came into power I have been very underemployed. I was hopeful that things would turn around when Romney would win but thanks to the democrats' fraud, I don't know what to do. Ein lanu al mi lehishaen eleh al Avinu ShebaShamayim! ”

Chalila, I'm not saying you are wrong, but I don't undersrand. What is it that you believe the Obama adminustration has done that has diminished your job prospects?

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Feb 03, 2013 at 11:21 PMAnonymous Says:

“
I went to college, was a rov in a shul, and cannot find regular work. Ever since Obama came into power I have been very underemployed. I was hopeful that things would turn around when Romney would win but thanks to the democrats' fraud, I don't know what to do. Ein lanu al mi lehishaen eleh al Avinu ShebaShamayim! ”

"I went to college, was a rov in a shul, and cannot find regular work. Ever since Obama came into power I have been very underemployed. I was hopeful that things would turn around when Romney would win but thanks to the democrats' fraud, I don't know what to do"

base on your simplistic posting and blaming Obama for your being "very underemployed", its quite easy to understand why. There is not a big market for "shul rabbonim" who cannot communicate effectively or have job skills that are needed by the market. Perhaps if you went back to school, learned a technical skill in demand and stop blaming others for your deficiencies, you might be better off.

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Feb 03, 2013 at 11:48 PMlazerx Says:

As a charadi engineer who worked in US for 20 years and Israel for 20 years, I will tell you straight, that the anti charadi discrimination is much greater than anti Jewish bais in the states. Finding a job and enduring the hatred is most difficult in Israel. There is NO LAW protecting you here like in US.

They can be openly hostile to you in Israel and can subvert you with cunning. Personally if life in Israel was not better and that it was the holy land, I would have gone back to live in the US, but the ability to live like a Jew in EY is so much better than in US.

There should be a law in Israel outlawing discrimination against charadim.

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Feb 04, 2013 at 04:35 AMfrum flatbusher Says:

It has nothing to do with lack of sharpness of the mind of a chareidi Jew. Fact is chareidim have far sharper minds than secular peers due to years of intense Talmudic study. In Israel its a question of discrimination. I have read studys where Arabs too have difficulty finding jobs. Here in America I myself never attended high school and my income beats most college educated individuals. In fact I am not an expert on math and keep a calculator in my car and office. I realized years ago that ones income has nothing to do with secular education. You can hire an accountant,lawyer,sewer cleaner and electrician to do your professional work. I know numerous multi millionaires who had no high school education as myself and made it financially. Of course if you want to be a doctor or dentist you must study the field but to make mega bucks that's easy. I know many young heimisha people doing financially very well. The trick is to daven and not be lazy and realize that on Rosh hashanna is when your income is decreed. Also those who follow the secular lifestyle of running on vacations or buying expensive products are usually never going to make it financially. I myself spend a half day davening and learning and never talk in shul. Its easier to make a million dollars than understand a blaat gemorah and meforshim well. I could teach you the simple system to become rich but wealth ruins most people. I have trained my kids to focus on Torah and not luxury living. With my experience as a multi millionaire I can teach almost anyone how to build and keep wealth. But like I said money is dangerous to most people. If you are wondering why I waste my time on a blog,I'm not. I read political blogs in the bathroom on my phone. I don't even have a computer in my office. For my business I use outside help in record keeping. Ok have a sweet day my fellow yidden.

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Feb 04, 2013 at 09:54 AMbenalt Says:

“
It has nothing to do with lack of sharpness of the mind of a chareidi Jew. Fact is chareidim have far sharper minds than secular peers due to years of intense Talmudic study. In Israel its a question of discrimination. I have read studys where Arabs too have difficulty finding jobs. Here in America I myself never attended high school and my income beats most college educated individuals. In fact I am not an expert on math and keep a calculator in my car and office. I realized years ago that ones income has nothing to do with secular education. You can hire an accountant,lawyer,sewer cleaner and electrician to do your professional work. I know numerous multi millionaires who had no high school education as myself and made it financially. Of course if you want to be a doctor or dentist you must study the field but to make mega bucks that's easy. I know many young heimisha people doing financially very well. The trick is to daven and not be lazy and realize that on Rosh hashanna is when your income is decreed. Also those who follow the secular lifestyle of running on vacations or buying expensive products are usually never going to make it financially. I myself spend a half day davening and learning and never talk in shul. Its easier to make a million dollars than understand a blaat gemorah and meforshim well. I could teach you the simple system to become rich but wealth ruins most people. I have trained my kids to focus on Torah and not luxury living. With my experience as a multi millionaire I can teach almost anyone how to build and keep wealth. But like I said money is dangerous to most people. If you are wondering why I waste my time on a blog,I'm not. I read political blogs in the bathroom on my phone. I don't even have a computer in my office. For my business I use outside help in record keeping. Ok have a sweet day my fellow yidden. ”

I have heard it said many times that after studying Talmud, the yeshiva person has a better or sharper mind than his peers. I studied in Kollel for many many years and have now been working for many years too. Personally, I don't see where studying Talmud has been an advantage and would like to know the source for saying that. Have there been any studies or is this just presumed because it seems to "make sense". The Talmud may improve thinking in certain ways, but the goyim also have things they learn which also sharpen their minds and I have encountered very impressive people both Jewish and non-Jewish in terms of that.

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Feb 04, 2013 at 10:02 AMMAYERFREUND Says:

“
I went to college, was a rov in a shul, and cannot find regular work. Ever since Obama came into power I have been very underemployed. I was hopeful that things would turn around when Romney would win but thanks to the democrats' fraud, I don't know what to do. Ein lanu al mi lehishaen eleh al Avinu ShebaShamayim! ”

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Feb 04, 2013 at 10:54 AMAnonymous Says:

“
As a charadi engineer who worked in US for 20 years and Israel for 20 years, I will tell you straight, that the anti charadi discrimination is much greater than anti Jewish bais in the states. Finding a job and enduring the hatred is most difficult in Israel. There is NO LAW protecting you here like in US.

They can be openly hostile to you in Israel and can subvert you with cunning. Personally if life in Israel was not better and that it was the holy land, I would have gone back to live in the US, but the ability to live like a Jew in EY is so much better than in US.

There should be a law in Israel outlawing discrimination against charadim. ”

It is true that Israel's are more hostile towards charedim. However, its a 2 way street. The reason is because even the charedim that do work generally will demand more frumer accomidations and be less tolerant then in the states. I doubt too many will work in an office along side ladies not dressed tznuis. Furthermore, because most charedim are takers it has an ill affect on those that want to be givers. So yes the Israel's should change their altitude but its a 2 way street.

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Feb 04, 2013 at 12:43 PMRealist77 Says:

The truth is that many chareidim lack primary social skills. They do not make eye contact, cannot speak eloquently and cannot write their thoughts into words. It is unfortunately an educational and social problem.